We understand that switching from a paper-based diary to an online booking system is a big decision.

Are you still managing bookings the old-fashioned way with a pen and paper diary?

The hotel industry has online bookings sewn up but there are still plenty of businesses out there in the outdoor holiday arena using spreadsheets and paper files to manage their bookings and customer details.

This is fine, if it works, but most would agree they would benefit from a reduction in the admin load. If you are one of those getting fed up with lost information and manually flicking through pages of entries looking for bookings or customer information, you should probably think about adopting an online booking software to streamline how you work.

One of the big wins with a system like ours is that everything is in one place. All the booking, customer and financial information is updated in everyone’s view at the same time and all email communication related to your bookings is automated.

Is it hard for a paper-based business to transition to an online platform?

Honestly, no, not with us. Here at Anytime Booking we give you a dedicated Customer Success Manager to help you through the entire process. From set up, to training and aftercare support, we make the transition as straight-forward and painless as possible.

Once you are up and running, you will instantly see how we improve your business; everything is automated, from managing bookings and OTA (online travel agent) channels, through to confirmation emails and cash list reports. We help you save time and increase revenue while you enjoy giving great customer service.

Just some of the benefits of taking that step

Cloud-based access from anywhere – multiple users can access the booking system from any device with internet connection; no need to share one desk-diary or update multiple spreadsheets.

Sharing real time availability – once a booking is made, no-one else will be able to select those dates for that particular pitch, pod or cottage (an easy mistake to make when you’re working with spreadsheets and post-it notes!)

Dashboard – gives you an instant snapshot of all new bookings, departures, arrivals, and outstanding balances in one place, no cross-referencing spreadsheets.

Your bookings, your money – we power commission-free direct bookings from your website at any time of day or night, but you can use it to process telephone bookings too.

Keep in control of your pricing – manage all your rates and rules for minimum stays and occupancy levels all in one place; set up special packages and discounts.

Channel management – share your rates with OTAs (online travel agents) if you wish to drive more bookings through multiple sales channels like Pitch Up, Airbnb and Booking.com (commissions to the channel will apply).

Fantastic customer support – get unrivalled service from the Customer Success and Helpdesk teams at Anytime Booking. We have spent thousands of hours becoming specialist in the outdoor holiday market.

When is the best time to look for a new booking system for your holiday accommodation?

There is no time like the present. Act now to get live online for the 2018 season!

The outdoor market did once wonder if the glamping phenomenon would fall away just as quickly as it had risen. A simple analysis of the term camping in google searches shows that this is very much a fluctuating seasonal search term, but the term glamping is on the steep incline, all over google, all year round.

The outdoor movement has grown massively, but glamping has enjoyed a notable surge in growth as it appeals to camping and hotel lovers alike. It’s the winning of the hotel lover that is boosting this sector so much, attracting a whole new affluent clientele to the outdoor market, securing the glamping industry well into the future.

There have also been questions about the future security of the staycation. Worries withdrawn. World economy, the threat of terror strikes, Brexit, displaced societies and the refugee crisis and political unrest in the UK have all lent themselves to a strengthening of the staycation trend.

The key to staycation success is really about the value and quality of the experience on offer. What seems to be playing right into the hands of glamping business owners is that the holiday destination itself seems to be becoming less important to the glamping demographic than the actual experience itself, giving them the opportunity to constantly evolve and adapt to win the business.

What should you be thinking about if you are launching a new glamping business?

Less location, more experience – while the South West still comes in at number one for glamping destinations, make the most of your offering, provenance and experience. Research the type of glamping that is reaching saturation point in your area and go against the grain. Offer the little extras: thought about bush-crafting, bread-making, wine-tasting, weddings?

Pricing – hit the right mark; your prospective visitors should already be fumbling for their debit card as they peruse your gorgeous website.

Service and facilities – quality all the way. Look at the finer details of everything. MMFS! Make me feel special!

Customer expectations – ignore these at your peril. Glamping customers are ‘seekers’, they all want to ‘find’ something. Make sure they don’t leave your site still looking!

Connectivity & accessibility – a top class website with an integrated online booking management system to capitalise on online booking behaviours. Part of your success matrix must be a good PMS (property management software).

Anytime Booking will be your perfect PMS; we have put years into becoming specialists in this market. We work in an agile methodology, constantly inspecting and adapting what the development priorities are, keeping in tune with the nuances and fluctuations of the glamping market.

A new camping industry trend has been identified by VisitScotland and is set to roll down the length and breadth of the British Isles over the next few seasons.

Dubbed ‘mild camping’, it is a type of camping for people who want to experience the wild outdoors but in a safer environment. It sits somewhere between wild camping and the kind of experience you’d get on a traditional family campsite. So rather than hanging off a cliff edge somewhere by yourself hoping for the best, you might be pitched in a wild field with the landowner within reach for greater security. It provides a down-to-earth, exhilarating experience without the worry.

It is almost anti-glamping, the other end of the scale. No marked-out pitches will be necessary, electrical hook-up will be a no-no, campfires a must. Mud won’t be frowned on, facilities can be dressed down and basic. The phenomenon opens a new world to landowners, holiday parks and campsites already in business or those starting out. It lends an opportunity to re-evaluate land stock, rebrand, or launch a business in a more environmentally sustainable way.

In an age of increased digital immersion and fast-paced living, the desire among consumers to escape to the simplicity of the great outdoors is staggering. Some are turning their backs on holidays abroad completely in favour of camping among the undulating hills and hedgerows of our fair isle. This gives the camping industry both the need and the opportunity to continually diversify, which is good news for camping businesses and good news for us. Mild camping is a new craze within the industry but it most certainly won’t be the last.

If you are a camping business looking for an online booking system to get you connected to the right marketplace and with the functionality to keep your business up with the changes, sign up to Anytime Booking now. We are the camping people.

Glampers want to live and breathe the great outdoors while moving beyond traditional camping and trying something different to the good old self-catering cottage. As such, they are expecting a VIP service, so the images and content on your website should reflect that.Getting your business online is one of the best things you can do to reach new and potential customers. But there’s an art to getting it right. Having a clear website and further information ready to fire out to them is absolutely key. There are some basic steps to help you make your website memorable and engaging.

Strong and clear message

Your website is your best chance to make a lasting impression to your customers. They will need to get the very essence of your holiday offering from the moment they land on your homepage. They want to see top quality, attractive photography and clear, honest information about what kind of holiday experience they will get. Addressing this will dramatically reduce turnaways from potential guests and therefore any loss of precious revenue. Many websites online fail to communicate the essence of their business to customers on their homepage and lose valuable leads and sales as a result. Make it count.

Responsiveness and connectivity

Holidaymakers now expect to be able to browse a holiday on a responsive website from their mobile or tablet. They also expect to be able to book their holiday online there and then through a clear, responsive booking engine. No-one has the patience for paper booking forms and cheques anymore! This is so important. Responsiveness doesn’t have to cost an arm and leg either. Depending on your budget, you can either go to your local web design agency, or use a simple website builder and do it yourself. Check out this website builder comparison site, it’s a great tool to work out which one is best for you: http://www.websitebuilderexpert.com/.

Easy navigation

Keep the navigation around your website easy, really easy! Put yourselves in your visitors’ shoes and imagine what you would want to find out before you make a choice. Include well-structured pages and clearly labelled tabs that intuitively lead visitors to relevant sections of your website. The moment you start to add pages in lots of sub headings, the customer is going to head off to the next website. The customer journey is very important, if you make them feel cared for, wanted and welcomed from the beginning you are more likely to be making that sale.

Content is king

Your website must convey relevant content to your visitors about your accommodation and site, but also things to do and what’s going around you, where you fit in the world. Your content is the single most important element in increasing customers. SEO (search engine optimization) plays a huge part in people finding you online. You’ll want to include keywords that are relevant to your business and industry in your page titles, meta tags, headings and in your website’s content. If you’re not a good content writer, it’s important to find one, you’ll thank them for what they can do for you. Don’t forget to also include beautiful, professional photos of your site and give them alt tags.

If you haven’t already, make sure you have Google Analytics tracking on your website. This is a sure way of knowing your pages are being read, how long visitors to your site are browsing for and which are your most popular pages. Another cool tool is https://www.crazyegg.com/.

Build a community

Your business will benefit if you build a community, so visitors feel they have the chance to become part of your gang. Start with the obvious networks you know and are active on – the most common being Facebook and Twitter. Include Facebook “Like” from your business Facebook page or a Twitter follow button will allow visitors to connect with you through other media. It’s also wise to create and maintain a blog as a way of talking directly to your fans, developing the level of trust and to increase content. The use of reviews and testimonials also increases your desirability.

Essential information pages you will need on your website

About Us: Don’t be shy!Who are you? Where do you come from? What makes you tick? What are your hopes and dreams? Making your guests feel something will influence their decision to stay with you.

The Accommodation:Make this visual as well as providing a list of what’s included. If you have a structured building, try and get a floor plan as well as high quality images. If there’s something quirky about it, point it out. It isn’t enough to say it’s a bell tent or pod. Why will they love it? Show them some great photography and content.

The Experience:The customer is looking for something a little different. Be creative, but be real. Tell them more about yourselves, the local area, the farm on which they’re staying, the people involved, the animals they might find there. Will they be feeding goats called Greta and Bob before breakfast? Bring your story to life.

Location: This is a little more than just your address details. Are you in the middle of a farm, are you 20 miles from the nearest shop? As well as being really informative, this helps on the SEO front. A little pin on a map and your full address is super helpful!

FAQs: Glamping is great. You can rock up with little ‘stuff’ and relax. Give your guest a list of FAQs so they know what to expect on your site. Tell your customer what’s including in their stay, what they do and don’t need to bring. We went glamping last year, it was a fantastic place, everything was provided, kitchen utensils, bed linen, tea and coffee. But no toilet roll!

Availability and Pricing: Always display your availability and pricing on your website. If you provide this information via your booking management system it will be delivered in real time and the customer will have the opportunity to book there and then, that pitch, for that price. No disappointment.

Book Now : Implement a Book Now button, a super quick way to let the customer react to your offering. You can attach this to your booking system by a simple web address straight to the booking form. Easily added to most social media channels too!

Contact: Even today, there are still plenty of people who would prefer to call you to make a booking. Make your telephone number easy to find!

The guest experience has already started, they have found you online and made a booking. Now don’t disappoint. It’s really important to keep up that momentum of communication.

Acknowledge their booking, thank them, say you’re looking forward to seeing them. Confirm dates and times. Make yourself available for further questions. You won’t regret going the extra mile. A good PMS (property management system) or online booking system [such as Anytime!] will take the pain out of regular communications and automate the process for you once you have set up the template communications you want to fire out.

Be helpful. Again, put yourself in the shoes of your guests. What they should bring? What do you provide on site? Remind them of some of your facilities, your farm shop hours, how to check-in.

Make sure that you personalise the pre-arrival communications that you send out. The right information at the right time, empowers your guests and helps them prepare for their stay. This timely communication staves off any fears, simplifies the pre-arrival process, and improves the holiday experience. You’ll benefit by decreasing no-shows and increasing engagement and satisfaction.

Understanding and communicating with your guests to build relationships and loyalty

Less transactional, more personal
In order to build relationships and create memorable stays for your customers, you must move beyond thinking of customer service as a transactional thing. It’s so important to personalise your customer service. Transactional customer service can be friendly and welcoming, but it’s worth going that bit further to try to gain a personal or emotional connection with your customers. This is what ultimately builds loyalty. Personalised customer service shows your guests that you recognise them, that you are listening to them, understanding them and that you care about them.

When you physically see your guests, be genuine, be nice, smile, put them first. Stop chatting to your colleague or typing or sharpening your pencils! First impressions really do matter.

Think outside of the box to treat your best customers

Give your loyal customers plenty of reasons to stay with you and no reasons to leave. Push your business to continually find ways to make your customers’ holidays better. Look after your best customers, and they will tell everyone about you. Put a hand-written note in their accommodation, randomly surprise them with an upgrade or a bottle of champagne in their welcome pack. It’s okay to think outside of the box and do things like this. Glampers are a discerning crowd and will shout from the roof-tops if they feel spoilt by you.

In an era when a tweet or a bad tripadvisor review can tarnish your brand and sales, you have to focus more on the customer experience. Wowing the customer will bring you brand loyalty and word of mouth referrals, without doubt. By treating your customers well, you will be amazed at how willing they are to support your business.

Have virtual conversations with your customer base

Give your customers the chance to opt in to receiving communications from you. Look at segmenting your customer base and offering them something, a discount to something, or information that relates specifically to them. Families, walkers, cyclists, pet-lovers, first-time campers, you can engage with them on a more individual level with tailored content. The more it comes across as a conversation the better.

Use social media too – on your Facebook or Twitter page, post updates no matter how big or small or anecdotal — this will make your customers feel like they know you. They will have a behind-the-scenes look into your world and you will make them feel something. Feeling is influencing.

Reward repeat customers – it’s a no brainer. Keep thanking them for coming back. And remember to say thank you in some way to guests who refer their friends’ business on to you too!

Encourage reviews

If you like what you hear from your guests, ask them if it’s okay to share that snippet with your other visitors, if it’s okay to give them 5 seconds of fame on Twitter or Facebook. If you are engaging, warm, and full of good humour, you’ll be amazed at how forthcoming your visitors become with the things they like about you! Feed the fan base and grow that feeling of community.

Anytime Booking is a PMS (property management software) company helping glamping businesses all over the UK and Europe to get established and to sell their holidays online. Here are some of our top tips for success!

Choose your land wisely and get planning permission from the beginning

With tourism development and farm diversification on the rise, there is a lot of help out there from planning departments. Talk to a planning consultant with experience of establishing glamping sites. If your location is within a 1-3 hour drive from a major city you will be able to capitalise on short-breaks from the rat-race.

Make good provision for private space

Glamping is very much at the top end of the hospitality industry so plan for decent sized plots, protected al fresco cooking and dining, heating, and quality showers and toilets – ensuite if possible!

Know your customers and your competition

It is important to identify who you want your main customer to be. This decision may influence your location, the extra activities your site will offer and even the type and size of your glamping structures. It is often wise to choose between catering for families or couples. By the same token, keep an eye on your competition and try to beat them in what you can offer.

Pay attention to the detail

Glamping is about high-end finishes and luxurious notes. Be generous with your budgeting; things will always cost more than you think. Have a business plan with projected rates and occupancy levels. Track your spend versus revenue. Don’t forget to factor in your accommodation and public liability insurance.

It’s ok to start small and grow

Give your business the chance to develop over time. You can always add new safari tents, pods or shepherd’s huts after a few seasons if you have the space. This way you can remain in complete control and can make decisions based on proven track record.

Get connected!

To maximise your conversion rate for enquiries, build a responsive website to showcase your business complete with high-quality photography and friendly, approachable writing. Introduce WiFi to your site if you can; while some visitors want true escapism, most do not! WiFi accessibility can be a defining factor in whether a guest books a holiday.

Invest in an online booking system with a PMS(property management software)

Every holiday-maker these days expects to be able to book online, whether direct through your website or via an OTA channel (online travel agent, such as TripAdvisor and the Glamping Hub). Befriend technology and make it easy for people to buy a holiday with you!

A good cloud-based PMS like Anytime Booking should be a central hub to your business and will enable it to run smartly and successfully. From bookings, availability, and reception desk features to task lists, financials, reporting, communications, e-marketing – we will help you do it all.